Raiders goaltending consultant Kelly Guard proudly displays the gold medal he won at the World Junior Championships on January 5. (Submitted Photo/Mark Peterson Media)

By Rob Mahon

Guard Golden Again

Golden again: Raiders goalie coach Guard returns triumphant from World Juniors

Jan 7, 2023 | 10:00 AM

Kelly Guard has represented Canada at an international event twice in the last five months. Both times he’s done so as a goaltending coach, and both times Canada has come away golden.

Guard was the goaltending coach for the World Junior team that won gold in dramatic fashion with an overtime winner on the night of January 5. The moment Dylan Guenther scored that overtime goal was the product of some work he had done as well.

“We’d seen the play create and he was driving that far post,” Guard said. “It was part of the pre-scout, getting (Tomas) Suchanek (goaltender for team Czechia) to move to his left side, by his glove and get it up. I’ll give Suchanek credit, he barely got it past him.”

The tournament started out on a rocky note for Canada’s goaltenders as they dropped the opener by a 5-2 count to the same Czechia team they would go on to defeat in the final. From there, however, the goaltending was consistently solid.

“It’s preparing them and getting them to believe they can play up a level from where they’re at” said Guard. “That’s key. Then, ride the momentum and help them deal with all the stresses that come with being a goaltender for Hockey Canada.”

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The journey home came almost immediately after, as Guard was in attendance at the Raiders game just one night after celebrating the gold medal win. With that same medal draped around his neck, Guard received a huge ovation from the Raiders faithful at a pregame ceremony.

“It’s been a long day and night, that’s for sure, not much sleep” Guard said. “But I wanted to get back. I knew Hildy (Max Hildebrand) was starting tonight and I wanted to get to see him live.”

It was fitting that Guard should be coming back on this night, gold medal in tow, as he came back to Prince Albert in time to witness Hildebrand’s finest performance of his young career. The netminder turned in a medal-worthy performance of his own, stopping 32 of 33 shots against a potent Red Deer Rebels squad.

“That was his best game I’ve ever seen him play in his entire career,” said Guard. “He’s going to be tired tonight. Who knows, he might go again tomorrow.”

Guard added the support of his wife and family was critical to the work he does with Hockey Canada.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP